“Lost in the Flood”

August 29, 2008

Gabe Schlabach expands upon his recent DC Gun Violence post in a new article for Third Way Cafe.  An excerpt:

Travis Childers (D-MS) introduced a federal bill, H.R. 6691, that would repeal all of Washington, D.C.’s gun laws and prevent the city from enacting future gun laws, even those found constitutional by the Supreme Court. The bill would set D.C.’s gun laws at the federal minimum level, allowing the possession of all firearms except sawed-off shotguns, fully automatic machine guns, and short-barreled rifles.

Gun violence steals the sacred and God-given gift of life from over 150 D.C. residents each year. There are competing opinions about whether gun control legislation is effective at stopping this tragedy or not. But the people of Washington, D.C. and their elected officials should have the power to decide the laws that affect their own safety. The U.S. Congress should not be making life-and-death policy decisions for the people of D.C. for political, election-year purposes.

The full article can be found here.

Leave a Comment » | Articles, Civil Rights, Crime and Justice, Legislative Updates | Permalink
Posted by Gabe Schlabach

U.S. House of Representatives Moving to Exacerbate Gun Violence in DC

August 22, 2008

Two months ago, semi-automatic handguns broke the silence of a quiet night in the Trinidad neighborhood of northeast Washington, DC, just three blocks from the Mennonite Central Committee DC service unit.  Thirty-five shots were fired in a matter of seconds, taking the lives of three men: Duane Hough, Johnny Jeter and Anthony Mincey.

A semi-automatic Glock 17 pistol, capable of firing up to 17 shots as rapidly as a shooter can pull the trigger. Legislation moving through the U.S. House of representatives would legalize these assault weapons in the District of Columbia.

A semi-automatic Glock 17 pistol, capable of firing up to 17 shots as rapidly as a shooter can pull the trigger. Legislation moving through the U.S. House of representatives would legalize these assault weapons in the District of Columbia.

For the record, Hough and Mincey had been charged with drug and assault crimes in the 90s, respectively, but the charges were dropped.  Jeter’s record was completely clean.  None of the three murdered men were known to have had any gang involvement.

Now the U.S. House of Representatives is moving to pass legislation (The Second Amendment Enforcement Act, H.R. 6691) that would repeal all of DC’s gun registration laws, would legalize the possession of semi-automatic assault weapons, and would prevent the DC Council from passing any new gun control legislation.  Under this act, any weapons other than fully-automatic machine guns, sawed-off shotguns, and short-barreled rifles would be legal in DC.

H.R. 6691 clearly oversteps on the District of Columbia’s right of self-governance.  Residents of the District of Columbia have no representation in Congress, and are being given no say on what their own gun laws should be.  The lives of District residents should not be put in jeopardy over national gun control politicking.

Leave a Comment » | Crime and Justice, Legislative Updates | Permalink
Posted by Gabe Schlabach

“Waging Peace in Sudan”

August 20, 2008

Tammy Alexander writes in PeaceSigns about the situation in Sudan, and what we in the United States and Canada can do to address the conflict and genocide occurring there:

We know the horrors in Sudan. We are not at peace. We are called by this knowledge and by Jesus’ example to take action. Children like Achak should be able to grow up in a land free from violence and oppression. They should be able to play and hope and learn and enjoy this beautiful world that God made for all of us.

So what do we do? In the short term, we can support efforts to rebuild homes and schools in southern Sudan, such as those supported by Mennonite Central Committee. For the longer term, we can advocate to our elected officials and urge them to take ethical, constructive action in Sudan to help maintain the peace in the South, and to help foster peace in Darfur. Churches across the country will be participating in a “Week of Waging Peace” Nov. 9-16, to pray and advocate for the people of Sudan. Visit www.mcc.org/sudanaction to find out how you and your congregation can get involved.

She also highlights the new Sudan worship resource available on our Waging Peace in Sudan website.

Leave a Comment » | Africa, Articles, Sudan Web Campaign, Website Updates | Permalink
Posted by Gabe Schlabach

“Love Notes from Cambodia”

August 20, 2008

Valerie Ong, who recently concluded a one-year fellowship with the Washington Office, writes a personal reflection for PeaceSigns from her recent trip to Cambodia.

I originally went to Cambodia to see the temples, stunning temples, and stunning they are. But it is the Cambodian people who awe me. I have never met a collective group of people as warm as Cambodians. They seem to be making the best of what they have. They don’t seem to harbor anger for all the injustice they’ve endured and continue to endure. Resilience and perhaps, unspoken hope for a better future push them to live each day with such grace. And that smile, oh boy, you’ve got to see it for yourself! You’ll fall in love too!

Valerie also discusses briefly her feelings of personal privilege and responsibility, as well as her cautious optimism about the work non-governmental organizations are doing to aid the people of Cambodia.

Leave a Comment » | Asia, Global Economic Justice, Staff Updates | Permalink
Posted by Gabe Schlabach

“Advocacy, Faith and Iran”

August 18, 2008

Emily Welty writes in Third Way Cafe about the MCC Washington Office’s witness on Iran:

After 40 years, the Washington Office continues to wrestle with how to integrate the demands of faithfulness and effectiveness. In responding to the issue of Iran, we were led both by our firm commitment to peaceful resolution of conflict as well as our desire to advocate for dialogue and reconciliation. We used the traditional advocacy tools of calling, writing and visiting our representatives but we also employed the language of faith – stressing the biblical call to reach out to our neighbors and refrain from threats.

Did our small witness to the government make a difference? Many other groups also have been working on this issue and there are clearly other factors at work.  We may never have an absolute answer to this question but we believe that not only our strategy, but also our faith, is relevant in how we choose to engage. And we believe that both the questions and our intentions to work faithfully do matter.

The full article also includes a summary of bipartisan legislation MCC backs, which could lead to less tense relationships between the United States and Iran.

Leave a Comment » | Articles, Legislative Updates, Middle East, Militarism | Permalink
Posted by Gabe Schlabach

In our view: What kind of peace for Colombia?

August 18, 2008

Rebecca Bartel and Bonnie Klassen
August 15, 2008

BOGOTA, Colombia – Colombia’s political climate has dramatically changed over the last months with the deaths of three-high profile members of the FARC (Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia); the military rescue of 15 political prisoners from FARC custody, including three U.S. contractors and Ingrid Betancourt, ex-presidential candidate; the ongoing paramilitary/politician scandal; and the increasing re-arming of paramilitary groups.

The rescue of Betancourt and the U.S. citizens is an indisputable triumph for the Colombian government and military in their fight against the FARC. The military strategy and show of might have sparked hope in some sectors of the Colombian population and in other countries that a road to peace is being forged.

Read the rest of this entry »

Leave a Comment » | Latin America/Caribbean | Permalink
Posted by Theo Sitther

Haaretz: U.S. Tells Israel Not to Attack Iranian Nuclear Facilities

August 15, 2008

Haaretz, a leading Israeli newspaper, reported today that “the American administration has rejected an Israeli request for military equipment and support that would improve Israel’s ability to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities….” Read more.

Leave a Comment » | Middle East, News Stories | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach

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